Level 4 Improvement Practitioner Apprenticeship
Programme Duration:14 months plus up to 3 months for End Point Assessment
Programmedelivery
Whatwillbe achieved?
Upon completion of your apprenticeship, you will receive:
Level 4 Improvement Practitioner Standard Certificate
Level 2 Functional Skillsin
English and/or mathematics (if not exempt)
As well as achieving your certificate(s) you will gain skills in problem-solving, communication and presentation, coaching and motivating others and detailed data analysis
This programme is delivered using a blended learning approach, combining face-to-face tutorials with online learning resources and support including:
Tutorials and one-to-one mentoring E-portfolio and e-learning
Additional learning and training arranged by your employer, this may include job shadowing/in house training programmes relevant to the course and dedicated time in your day to study, of at least 6 hours per week
2-hour one-to-one visits every 4 to 6 weeks with a dedicated tutor and formal quarterly progress reviews with your manager and tutor.
Theapprenticeshipjourney
The Level 4 Improvement Practitioner apprenticeship standard sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours that is required to lead on improvement intiatives. The programme has been structured around three key themes of learning to support learners develop their knowledge and skills in a logical manner:
The Principles of Continuous Improvement
Team Formation and Leadership Change Management
Identify the Problem and Validate Containment Action Planning and Compliance
Data Collection Planning
Voice of the Customer (VoC)
Data Analysis
Process Mapping
Project Management
Methodology and Tools
Root Cause Analysis and Lean Tools
Identification, Prioritisation and Action Planning
Trialing and Experimentation (PDSA Cycles)
Implementation and Confirmation
Sustaining Improvement and Control
Benchmarking, Scale-Up and Spread
Reviewing, and A3 Reporting Methodology
Whoistheprogrammeforandwhatwillbeinvolved?
Improvement practitioners use a blend of Lean and Six Sigma, project and change management principles and tools to identify and lead the delivery of change across organisational functions and processes. Improvement practitioners can be found across all sectors and functions including automotive, banking, engineering, food products, IT, property, retail, telecoms etc.
Typically, practitioners lead smaller projects and/or play a key supporting role in a larger programme – tackling issues that may require swift problem solving or recurring challenges that require in-depth analysis and the implementation of a range of effective and sustainable countermeasures. They are the focal point for all stakeholders and responsible for communication throughout a project. Typical activities include:
identifying potential opportunities, diagnosing issues, proposing solutions and implementing changes and controls coaching teams and sharing best practice leading projects and managing small teams, ensuring motivation and momentum, and being responsible for the successful
Learners will be assigned a qualified tutor to provide them with help and support delivered by a blended learning approach combining on and off-the-job training to ensure they develop the skills required for their role. Learners with support from their tutor, as needed, complete a range of online learning modules that develop their underpinning knowledge of a broad range of management tasks and concepts. The learning from these topics is holistically assessed through the completion of a range of formal assessment tasks that contribute to their portfolio of evidence and presentations. To achieve this, learners must have at least 6 hours of protected study time each week.
In addition to developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to be a successful Improvement Practitioner, learners will need to achieve level 2 Functional Skills qualifications in English and maths and be committed to achieving these qualifications in the first nine months of their apprenticeship (unless they have GCSE equivalents at grades 9 - 4/A* - C in these subjects).
Learners will develop competence and confidence at work with a range of resources designed to allow access to online learning, videos, workshops and more.
EndPointAssessment(EPA)
This programme is formally assessed by an independent end point assessor using three methods weighted 10%, 60% and 30% respectively
Multiple Choice Exam (10%)
The multiple-choice examination will contain 40 knowledge-based questions and have a time limit of 40-minutes.
The multiple-choice examination is an open book exam. Reference books can be used but access to the internet is prohibited.
Project Report, Presentation and Questioning (60%)
The report must follow each step of one of the recognised problem-solving methodologies e.g. ‘Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control’ (DMAIC), ‘8 Disciples (8D)’, ‘Practical Problem Solving’.
The report should:
•Be a concise, visual summary
•Follow the principles of “A3 Thinking”
•Convey key points in a way that enables messages to be grasped “within 3 seconds”
•Be typically one to three sides of A3
The apprentice will have to produce a presentation based on the project report and deliver this to the End point assessor who will then be able to question the apprentice based upon the information contained in the presentation.
Professional Discussion underpinned by CPD Log (30%)
The log will typically reference between 13 and 15 pieces of evidence, with at least one piece covering each of the standards. The log will then be used as the focal point of the professional discussion and as such will not be assessed in itself as a separate assessment method.
The independent assessor will ask the apprentice between 13 and 15 open questions relating to the log and can if deemed necessary, ask further follow-up questions for clarification to elicit evidence that all the required standards have been attained.
LEVEL 4 IMPROVEMENT PRACTITIONER
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME MATRIX
Theme 1: Planning and Scope
Making use of the resources available to identify an improvement and create a project charter, including aims and purpose. Plan how to support and coach others. Plan how to take the lead on a project
Learning topics:
• The Principles of Continuous Improvement
• Team Formation and Leadership
• Change Management
• Identify the Problem and Validate
and behaviours
Introduction modules:
• Introduction to your course
• Safeguarding
• Online safety
• British values and Prevent strategy
• Equality and diversity
• Introduction to Functional skills
• Take control of your future
• Containment Action Planning and Compliance
• Data Collection Planning
• Voice of the Customer (VoC)
Written Assignment tasks to be completed and submitted via Aptem
• Task 1 - CI Principles
• Task 2 - Team Formation and Leadership
• Task 3 - Change Management
• Task 4 - Identify the Problem and Validate
• Task 5 - Containment Action Planning and Compliance
• Task 6 - Data Collection Planning
• Task 7 - Voice of the Customer (VoC)
• Complete 3 CPD Logs covering Team Formation, Change Management and Compliance
• Collect evidence of planning and the tools you have used
Behaviours developed throughout programme:
Throughout you apprenticeship you will develop and demonstrate the following behaviours
Theme 2: Change and Implementation
Identify the root causes of issues, map the process, trial and experiment with solutions before implementing the change(s)
topics:
• Data Analysis
• Process Mapping
• Project Management Methodology and Tools
• Root Cause Analysis and Lean Tools
• Identification, Prioritisation and Action Planning
• Trialling and Experimentation (PDSA Cycles)
• Implementation and Confirmation
Written Assignment tasks to be completed and submitted via Aptem
• Task 1 - Data Analysis
• Task 2 - Process Mapping
• Task 3 - Project Management Methodology and Tools
• Task 4 - Root Cause Analysis and Lean Tools
• Task 5 - Identification, Prioritisation and Action Planning
• Task 6 - Trialling and Experimentation (PDSA Cycles)
• Task 7 - Implementation and Confirmation
• Complete 7 CPD logs reflecting on the tools your have used
• Collect evidence of data analysis, root cause analysis, testing and implementation and the tools you have used
• Drive for results: Continuous drive for change and encourages others to deliver results across functional areas capturing and standardising best practice
• Team-working: Awareness of own and others’ working styles. Creates high performing team
• Professionalism: Promotes a moral, legal and socially appropriate working manner, aligns behaviours to the organisations values. Maintains flexibility to needs of project
3: Review and Control
Sustain the change, scale-up and spread before reporting on the impact of change
Learning topics:
• Sustaining Improvement and Control
• Benchmarking, Scale-Up and Spread
• Reviewing, and A3 Reporting Methodology
Written Assignment tasks to be completed and submitted via Aptem
• Complete 3 CPD logs reflecting on sustaining the change and reporting
• Create an A3 report from your Improvement Project
• Complete an evidence mapping matrix
• Continuous development: Proactively seeks and acts on feedback. Reflects on performance and has a desire for development. Adapts quickly to working with new situations/stakeholders/challenges
• Safe working: Ensures safety of self and others, speaks out to challenge safety issues
Development of English and maths skills
•Speaking, listening and communication assesment to be completed by month 4
•Reading, writing and/or maths exams to be completed by month 9
Live Assessment Day (LAD): Method 2:Project Presentation and Questioning Assessment
To assess skills and behaviours concerning project improvement
Lasts up to 75 minutes 40 minute presentation and 35 minutes of questioning
and Evidence
